NFL Player Raises Concern Over Tom Brady’s Dual Role as Broadcaster and Raiders Owner: ‘Could Create an Ugly Situation’
Tom Brady may be three years out of the league, but he’s still just as polarizing – even if he’s not on the field. Before retiring for good in February of 2023, Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting contract with Fox Sports, giving him a significant platform and making him the highest-paid sports broadcaster in history.
Why Tom Brady’s Raiders Ownership Still Makes the NFL Uncomfortable
Even with the broadcasting deal, Brady still wanted to stay closer to the game after retirement, so he began exploring ownership opportunities. This led him to purchase a 5% minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders for vague control of the team, while potentially allowing Brady to share behind-the-scenes insights into other teams’ operations from his broadcasting gig.
However, concerns among owners and teams intensified over potential conflicts of interest that have lingered since the purchase. As questions around the conflicts persisted, The Athletic polled players around the league to see how they feel about Brady’s dual roles.
According to the poll, 84.2% of players voted in favor of Brady retaining both positions, while 6.6% voted against him, and 9.2% did not care about the situation, indicating that the majority of players have no issue with his positions.
“It’s just a conflict of interest,” said an AFC defensive player who was one of the few who objected to Brady’s double duty. “Even if Tom is being careful, the optics are not good, and it could create an ugly situation down the road.”
While many don’t seem to care, the anonymous AFC defensive player makes a valid point. For competitive AFC West coaches Sean Payton, Andy Reid, and Jim Harbaugh, why would you allow the Raiders’ minority owner into your building for a production meeting when he can report what he observes right back to Las Vegas?
The league responded by imposing restrictions, including limiting access to team facilities, players, and coaches, and reducing his participation in broadcast production meetings.
Since 2023, the restrictions have been modified slightly. Instead of being barred from participating in production meetings, he now has virtual access, though he still can’t set foot in the facility.
Brady’s constant cat-and-mouse game has yet to help the Raiders – they haven’t found a franchise quarterback, leading the offense to a 31st ranking according to PFSN’s Offensive Impact Grades. While Brady’s broadcasting skills have certainly improved over the last year, his team-building acumen is still being tested.
